Samuel m



(No Model.)

- S. M. TOTTEN.

BIBB..`

No.l 579,658. Patented Mar. 30, 1897.

' r 'r 245573655653 fr" Ifzvefazor': W/MJM/@ w. 535/ UNTTED STATESPATENT OEETCE.

SAMUEL M. TOTTEN, OF VERMILLION, SOUTH DAKOTA.

BIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,658, dated March30, 1897.

A Application led September 14, 1896. Serial No. 605,807. (No model.)

Tn all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. TOTTEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vermillion, in the county of Olay and State of South Dakota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Biers, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

My invention relates to funeral-biers, and has for its object thearrangement of ymovable supporting-standards in alinement to provideextensible and contracting platforms to receive caskets of any length.

A further object of my invention is to provide a structure that isstrong, light, and adapted to receive drapery, and that can be easilymoved around in a room or church, through narrow doors, aisles, andother places 4where it is inconvenient for pall-bearers to handle acasket; and to these ends my invention consists of a pair ofskeleton-like standards that are held in position by an extensibleconnecting-rod and which are mounted on universally-movable wheels orrollers.

I attain these objects by mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l represents a side elevation; Fig. 2, an endview, and Fig. 3 a top plan view. Fig. 4: represents a top plan view incross-section of the ball-bearing joint.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

The truck or bier consists of standards A and B, that are held in properrelative position by an extensible connecting-rod C. The truck ismounted on wheels D D and is provided with a handle D.

Each standard is organized in a like manner, the details of which are asfollows: The platform E of the standard comprises a rectangular-shapedframe composed, preferably, of longitudinal side bars or sills b h', ofmetal, which are cast in one piece, as shown. Arranged transverselythereto is a vertical central frame F, preferably of rectangular shapeand similarly constructed. The sides of this latter frame form uprightposts P P, that are flush with the sides of the platform, while thebottom bar serves as a base-bar c. The structure is strengthened on eachside by a double oblique truss-bar t t, that extends from the respectiveends of the platform to and about the base-bar, and is so shaped as toiit the latter, to which it is securely bolted by screw s.

To further strengthen the framework of the standard, the top portion ofthe frame is connected with the base-bar by tie or strut rods CZ d.These rods are preferably spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 2, while thelower portion of said rods is provided with pedestals p p', thatshoulder against the bottom side of the base-bar and which are held inthat position by reason of the screw-threads and nuts n at their upperextremities. Said pedestals are also provided with ball-races r and formone member of a ball-bearing' joint. The other member of theball-bearing joint is formed in the top portion of a forked piecef, inwhich the wheel or roller D is journaled. The rims of the wheel maybeprovided with pneumatic tires t IIavn g described my invention, what Idesire to claim as my invention isl. In an extensible bier thecombination of two skeleton wheeled standards that are detachablyconnected by a single rod, adjustable along its length, each of saidstandards consisting of a rectangular frame forming a platform and anupright frame centrally secured and suspended at right angles thereto bymeans of double truss-bars, said upright frame being provided withspaced vertical tie-rods which are extended to form supporting-legs,said legs being rotatably mounted on wheel-forks carrying rollers, thecrowns of which are provided with ball-bearing joints, substantially asdescribed.

2. In an extensible bier the combination of two skeleton wheeledstandards that are detachably connected by a single rod, adjustablealong its length, each of said standards consisting of a rectangularframe forming a platform and an upright frame centrally secured andsuspended at right angles thereto by means of double truss-rods, saidupright frame being provided with spaced vertical tie-rods which areextended to form supporting-legs, said legs being rotatably mounted onwheel-forks carrying rollers, the crowns of which are provided withball-bearing joints; and an extensible handle-bar attachment that issldingly mounted and adjustable longtuupon unversally-movable wheels orrollers, 1o dinally in one of said standards, substansubstantially as(lesorlbed.

tially as described. In testimony whereof I affix my signature 3. Inanextensible bier a frame having a in presence of two Witnesses. 1 nu Y11 nvubr u ltnffv r y D eota bulm top, a eeta D a s ppo c SAMUEL M TOBEEN' frame and a pair of double brace-trusses a1'- l'anged and rigidlysecured in parallelism to Vtnesses:

form side brackets, and struts forming sta- C. WV. RUNYAN, tiouaryuplights that are pivotally mounted 1I. J. DAVENPORT.

